Does Agave Help Treat Diabetes?

A:

Quick Answer

Agave has not been proven to help treat diabetes. An initial study testing the impact of agave on mice indicated that this sugar substitute triggered insulin production and lowered blood sugar. This resulted in weight loss in some of the mice.

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The study led to the idea that agave may have the same impact in humans, a promising revelation to the 26 million Americans who have diabetes.

Agave was popularized as a sugar substitute because it appealed to health food lovers who valued its low-glycemic index. It is composed largely of fructose, a sugar naturally found in fruit, that is then concentrated. Its high fructose content is the reason some physicians consider it to be no better for the health than regular sugar.